Disclosed are methods, devices and computer programs that enables a controlled activation and/or deactivation of multiplication/duplication transmissions where packets transmitted to a wireless device from a network node is multiplied/duplicated and transmitted from several network nodes to the wireless device. The methods, devices and computer programs are based on a quality indication that represents for the quality of the connections between a wireless device and different network units. Based on a quality indication obtained from the wireless device the network node(s) may initiate or terminate a multiplication/duplication transmission mode where packets are transmitted to the wireless device from several network nodes.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method performed by a wireless device operating in a communication network, the method comprising: determining a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) statistic for user-plane data transmissions on connections between the wireless device and at least two radio network nodes of the communication network, the HARQ statistic comprising a HARQ retransmission rate on each of the connections or a variance in the HARQ retransmission rate across the respective connections; and transmitting signaling to at least one of the radio network nodes, indicating the HARQ statistic, for use by the communication network in deciding whether to activate or deactivate a packet multiplication mode of operation between the wireless device and the at least two radio network nodes; wherein duplicate Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) are transmitted across the respective connections when the packet multiplication mode of operation is activated, and wherein duplication of PDCP PDUs across the respective connections is not used when the packet multiplication mode is deactivated.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transmitting the signaling comprises conditionally transmitting the signaling in dependence on whether the HARQ statistic exceeds a specified threshold value.
3. A method performed by a network device configured for operation in a communication network, the method comprising: determining a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) statistic for user-plane data transmissions on connections between a wireless device and at least two radio network nodes of the communication network, the HARQ statistic comprising a HARQ retransmission rate on each of the connections or a variance in the HARQ retransmission rate across the respective connections; and deciding whether to activate or deactivate a packet multiplication mode of operation between the wireless device and the at least two radio network nodes, in dependence on the HARQ statistic; wherein duplicate Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) are transmitted across the respective connections when the packet multiplication mode of operation is activated, and wherein duplication of PDCP PDUs across the respective connections is not used when the packet multiplication mode is deactivated.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises signaling, to the wireless device, whether said packet multiplication mode of operation has been initiated or terminated.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the network device is communicatively coupled to the at least two radio network nodes, for controlling the activation and deactivation of the packet multiplication mode of operation, or wherein the network device comprises one of the at least two radio network nodes, for controlling activation and deactivation of the packet multiplication mode of operation.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein deciding whether to activate or deactivate the packet multiplication mode of operation between the wireless device and the at least two radio network nodes comprises activating the packet multiplication mode of operation if the HARQ statistic exceeds a threshold value, and deactivating the packet multiplication mode of operation if the HARQ statistic falls below the same or another threshold value.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the HARQ statistic comprises the network device determining the HARQ statistic based on the network device tracking HARQ retransmissions on the connections between the at least two radio network nodes and the wireless device, or based on the network device receiving signaling indicating the HARQ statistic, wherein the signaling originates from any one or more of the at least two network nodes and the wireless device.
8. A wireless device configured for operation in a communication network, the wireless device comprising: communication circuitry configured for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from one or more radio network nodes of the communication network; and processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to: determine a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) statistic for user-plane data transmissions on connections between the wireless device and at least two radio network nodes of the communication network, the HARQ statistic comprising a HARQ retransmission rate on each of the connections or a variance in the HARQ retransmission rate across the respective connections; and transmit signaling to at least one of the radio network nodes, indicating the HARQ statistic, for use by the communication network in deciding whether to activate or deactivate a packet multiplication mode of operation between the wireless device and the at least two radio network nodes; wherein duplicate Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) are transmitted across the respective connections when the packet multiplication mode of operation is activated, and wherein duplication of PDCP PDUs across the respective connections is not used when the packet multiplication mode is deactivated.
9. A network device configured for operation in a communication network, the network device comprising: communication circuitry configured for transmitting signaling for activating and deactivating a packet multiplication mode of operation; and processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to: determine a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) statistic for user-plane data transmissions on connections between a wireless device and at least two radio network nodes of the communication network, the HARQ statistic comprising a HARQ retransmission rate on each of the connections or a variance in the HARQ retransmission rate across the respective connections; and decide whether to activate or deactivate the packet multiplication mode of operation, as between the wireless device and the at least two radio network nodes, in dependence on the HARQ statistic; wherein duplicate Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Protocol Data Units (PDUs) are transmitted across the respective connections when the packet multiplication mode of operation is activated, and wherein duplication of PDCP PDUs across the respective connections is not used when the packet multiplication mode is deactivated.
10. The network device according to claim 9 , wherein the network device comprises one of the radio network nodes.
11. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the HARQ statistic based on the network device tracking HARQ retransmissions on the connections between the at least two radio network nodes and the wireless device, or based on the network device receiving signaling indicating the HARQ statistic, wherein the signaling originates from any one or more of the at least two network nodes and the wireless device.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 15, 2017
April 14, 2020
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